Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-06-16
A REMARKABLE DOG.
What a Big MastiT Did for His Gar
dem Loving Master.

dem Loving Master
Mr.. Harold Dollner, native of Den
mark. and for many years consul gen.
eral of Denmark in New York city,
says writer in The Christian AdU0-
cate, and portion of the time acting
minister for that kingdom, and well
known to business men as the head oil
the firm of Dollncr, Potter & Co., OF
New York, for many years resided in
Brooklyn in mansion of the old
style, situated on Washington avenue,
in the midst of what, for ty, are
large grounds. He ALWAYS took a great
interest in his flowers, trees, and vege-
tables, and in the heart of the city
raised the very finest pumpkins. lie
also kept two or three dogs-one a
houSe-dog. another of the spaniel varie-
ty. and the third a powerful mastiff.
The mastiff was always chained near
the stable. and not far from the rear
entrance to the premises.
In certain autumn the pumpkins
which were produced in Mr.. Dollner's
garden were of such extraordinary size
and beauty that they exc ted the cupid
ty of person, who stole two of the
largest of them and took them to the
horticultural exhibition, where he en-
tered them as his own, and actually
took the premium for them. This so
raised Mr.. Dollner's Indignation that
he instructed his gardner to take off the
largest of those which remained and
depositc them in the cellar. lest they
also should be stolen. At the same time
he told him to set the mastiif loose, so
that if anybody else came in at night
to steal the pumpkins the dog would
attack him. Pursuant to this order the
gardner worked all the afternoon TAX
ing off the finest of the pumpkins,
which he carried one by one, piling
them near the cellar door until he had
finished. when he conveyed them into
the cellar. About sunset he unclaimed
the mastiff
This dog had watched the perform
ance of the gardener, and during the
night it knswed off the largest OF
the remaining pumpkins and carried
them one by one to the cellar door,
where he p He'd them up and stood
guard over them until the next morning
when, as the cook arose and opened
the door, with an expression Of great
delight the animal waggcd his tail,
looked up for appreciation, and wen
away. The next night he knawed of
everything from the size of n hazcl-nut
upward, and carried them to the cellar
door as before. A few days afterward
when the person suspected of having
stolen the pumpkins, who had always
been friendly with him, entered. tn,
mastif sprang upon him with the ut
most rage.
Mr. Doliner was living when w
wrote the above. 1t was then sent t,
him with request that he would Ger
tify to its truth if he could, or alter j
till he could conscient.ously attest it
A few weeks before his death we re
ceived our last communication from
him:
| No $50 WAsHISaToN AVENUE, BROOKLYN
Z, IL, lSS6.-I certify that the account given b
DR. Buckley Of my pumpkins and my dog
true in every particular HAROLD DoLLHER."
1t is plain that the mastitf had neve
seen such an operation before. IL
therefore must have comprehended
by an effort of the mind, held it throug
the entire night, worked upon it. col
templated it as completed act, an
surrendered the pumpkins to the fam
ly when they arose. Yet of course h
failed to comprehend the reason or t
distingu sh the value of the RIPE from
the unripe pumpkins. lie also cor
nected the man who had in his sigh
stolen the pumpkins with the deed.
At the time this was told to the writ
er there were six witnesses living
, the gardner, two servants in the hous'
and the owner of the establishment
his wife, and their son.